Heaven; and that he was going down to destroy those places, if he found their crimes equal to the report.

The patriarch, remembering his nephew, Lot, and stimulated by compassion for his fellowcreatures, earnestly interceded for such righteous men as might be found among the sinners; and continued his solicitations till he obtained an assurance, that if ten just persons were found in the place, God would lay aside his purposed judgment for their sake. The fate of those cities and the deliverance of Lot, having appeared in the preceding volume, it is only requisite to observe, that Abraham, on the ensuing morning, beheld the smoke of the polluted country ascending like the smoke of a furnace.

Soon after this period, Abraham removed from the plains of Mamre into the country of the Philistines, where king Abimelech secured Sarah for his bed, supposing her to have been the patriarch's sister; but God appeared to the Philistine in a dream, and threatened him with instant death, if he did not immediately restore the woman to her husband; in consequence of which, Sarah was sent back with many valuable presents.

At the appointed time, Sarah was de- B. C. livered of the child of promise, who was 1896. circumcised on the eighth day, and named Isaac, agreeably to the command of the Almighty. The venerable couple were now in the zenith of their happiness: Sarah having suckled the infant at her own breast, weaned him at the customary time; and her pious husband made a feast to all his household on the joyful occasion. But this felicity suffered some alloy from the jealousy, VOL. II.

G

which Isaac occasioned to Hagar and her son; for Isaac had scarcely attained his seventh year, when his mother, perceiving that Ishmael treated him with disrespect, resolved to part them for ever, that the son of the bond-woman might have no share in the inheritance. Though Abraham loved his wife so tenderly, that he could deny her nothing, yet he considered her intention as cruel and unreasonable; but God confirming Sarah's request, and promising to make Ishmael the father of a great nation, he was at length prevailed on to send Hagar and her son away.

About twenty-five years after this event, Abraham's faith and obedience were put to the most severe test, he being commanded by the Almighty to take Isaac, his only and dearly beloved son, to a certain mountain, and there to offer him up as a burnt-sacrifice. The justly-celebrated patriarch, without presuming to expostulate upon the severity of these orders, resolved to obey; leaving to God the performance of his own promises. He accordingly set out, the very next morning, and, on the third day, came within sight of Mount Moriah, the place appointed for the dreadful sacrifice. Leaving his servants behind, he ascended the mountain with the darling of his old age, laden with the wood and other materials for a burnt-offering. Isaac, seeing nothing of a victim, could not forbear questioning his father, who replied, calmly, that God would provide a lamb for the occasion. Having built an altar, and laid the wood in order, Abraham bound his son, and stretched out his hand to give the fatal blow but God was pleased to countermand his injunction, and to renew all his promises to his well-tried servant, who had not attempted to with

hold his only son from him. Abraham then discovered a ram, caught by the horns in a bush, which he immediately sacrificed instead of his son, and, in memory of the transaction, called the place Jehovah-jire, the Lord will provide, alluding to the answer he had given Isaac on ascending the mountain. He soon after heard the welcome news, that his sister-in-law, Milcah, had borne a numerous issue, a circumstance which induced him to send to that family for a wife for Isaac.

Abraham appears to have lived in the B. C. utmost tranquillity with Isaac and Sarah, 1860. till his happiness was disturbed by the death of the latter, which happened in the hundred and twenty-seventh year of her age, in the city of Hebron. Her husband went thither to mourn for her, and to procure her an honourable sepulture. He accordingly purchased the cave of Machpelah, with the field belonging to it, from Ephron the Hittite, for four hundred pieces of silver, and deposited in that place the remains of his beloved wife.

The patriarch, being anxious to see B. C. Isaac married to some branch of his own 1857. family, called one of his most faithful servants to him, and having compelled him to take an oath that he would execute his commission with fidelity, gave him suitable instructions to conclude the marriage. The servant proceeded with all possible speed to Haran, where Abraham's brother resided, and partly by rich presents, and partly by the favourable account he gave of Abraham's wealth and grandeur, easily obtained the beautiful Rebecca for his young master. Having thus acquitted himself of his commission,

he hastened back to Abraham; and Rebecca was received by Isaac with every mark of affectionate respect.

B. C. Abraham, though greatly delighted with 1853. the marriage of his son, deemed it advisable to console himself for the loss of his beloved Sarah, by espousing Keturah, after he had continued a widower for several years. By this union he had six sons, whom he afterward portioned, that they might not interfere with Isaac's inheritance. They accordingly went to the eastward of Beersheba and the land of Canaan, and settled in both Arabias, where some traces of their name may still be found.

Nothing more is recorded of this famous patriarch, but, that he died in the hundred and seventy-fifth year of his age, and was buried by his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, in the sepulchral cave of Machpelah.

B. C.

Rebecca, who had continued barren for 1838. upwards of nineteen years, was at length delivered of two sons, whom she called Esau and Jacob. Esau became a great hunter, and, consequently, the darling of his father, who was very fond of venison; but Jacob was the especial favourite of his mother, who knew, by revelation, that he should inherit the blessing. This knowledge she probably communicated to the object of her maternal love, as he was not above twenty years old when he contrived to make his brother swear away his birthright.

Isaac, having removed to Gerar, in consequence of a famine, and formed an amicable treaty with king Abimelech, resolved to confer a solemn benediction on his first-born Esau, before he died. He therefore commanded

him to go in quest of some venison, and dress it to his palate; expressing a wish to put his design in execution immediately. Esau cheerfully obeyed these injunctions; but Rebecca, having overheard the discourse, caused Jacob to personate his brother, and executed her plan with such admirable prudence, that Isaac had pronounced the irrevocable blessing, before his eldest son returned from the chase, Jacob hastened to acquaint his mother with their brilliant success, and Esau was soon convinced that he had been circumvented in his absence. A pathetic scene ensued between the venerable patriarch and his afflicted son; but the former strenuously insisted that his blessing should remain with Jacob. However, to assuage Esau's excessive grief, he blessed him also in these words, "Thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of Heaven from above: by thy sword and thy bow shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass, that when thou shalt have the dominion, thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck." This benediction was, however, so far from composing the mind of Esau, that he is said to have resolved on Jacob's assassination, and dropped such hints of his dark design, that Rebecca found a pretence for sending the object of his resentment beyond his reach, to Padan Aram.

Jacob being greatly encouraged by a singular dream, in the vicinage of Luz, proceeded cheerfully on his journey, till he arrived at the house of his uncle Laban. Here he was received with every demonstration of joy; and an agreement was soon made, by virtue of which, he was to serve his relative seven years, on condition of